Tag Archives: mental health

You Can’t Live on Ego Candy

Posted on August 3, 2025 by mitchteemley

Compliments are like candy. They’re pleasurable in small amounts. But the moment we try to live on them we grow weak and sickly. Just ask any miserable, spiritually undernourished pop idol, sports hero, or movie star. Adulation isn’t nutrition. True, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Broken Boy Meets Broken Girl

Posted on July 15, 2025 by mitchteemley

Source: Unsplash from Freerange Stock My Real Memoir As she passed, my friend Theo, a fellow graduate directing major, whispered, “She’s so sensuous and classy.” I hadn’t seen Dinah since last spring, but I had to agree. Theo admitted that he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Mocking the Monster That Haunted Me

Posted on June 24, 2025 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir It had been a hard summer, the hardest of my life. The monster Anxiety followed me wherever I went. Still, my bedroom window let the sun in, along with a dozen sparrows. And my flirtations with faith … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The Storm I Couldn’t See Coming

Posted on May 13, 2025 by mitchteemley

Image by PortSundries My Real Memoir There’d been signs early on, but I was too young to know what they meant. In primary school I’d heard the phrase, “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back,” and started avoiding cracks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

And All This Time I Thought…

Posted on April 16, 2025 by mitchteemley

So, it turns out I’m a master of the ancient and venerated Chinese art of Feng Shui! And all this time I just thought I had OCD. ≠ Note: The above is meant strictly as self-mocking. My OCD is fairly … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

It’s Time Once Again to Reflect

Posted on December 27, 2024 by mitchteemley

The end off the year is a time of reflection. But when we do, let us remember that, while the peaceful times are pleasant, they’re also static. It’s our trials that cause us to grow — if we allow them … Continue reading →

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

How to Forgive the Unforgiveable

Posted on November 25, 2024 by mitchteemley

Image taken from the feature film Healing River. Thought for the Week There are unforgiveable acts, but there are no unforgiveable people. Tragically, yes, there are a few–very few–whose consciences are seared, who can no longer discern good from evil. … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , | 50 Comments

Is It OK to Believe In Myself?

Posted on November 11, 2024 by mitchteemley

Photo by Emmanuel Avila Thought for the Week I usually cringe when I see “Believe in Yourself” articles. Because, while valid in theory, in practice they often feature empty self-affirmations. Not meaningful correctives like, “I deserve to be loved.” But … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Movies, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments

Life Beyond the Tunnel

Posted on October 24, 2024 by mitchteemley

My Age of Anxiety A true story It would be nice if my age of anxiety had ended with my breakthrough in the desert. It hadn’t. But something had changed; I’d moved from trying to control my thoughts to learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Our Greatest Enemy

Posted on October 19, 2024 by mitchteemley

“Our greatest enemy lives in the mirror.” ~The Wishing Map φ

Posted in The Wishing Map, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments